The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats related to the fossil fuels has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage throughout industries and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be stored just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to fulfill 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all across India needing very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of a number of years. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be explored. It will not just supply an answer to the difficulty of Global Warming however might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.